A few people have made mention of Cargine in comments and I've been so swamped with newsy stuff (and normal life) that I hadn't really had time to look at it until now.
The interest was sparked mainly by an article in Swedish publication Ny Teknik, which states that this technology is a prime candidate for further development with the assistance of the government-backed $600m loan that Saab will most likely receive from the EIB. This money has to be used for investment in new technologies that create efficiencies; greening things up a bit.
Cargine's work involves the development of a pneumatic valve system, which as I understand things makes the camshaft redundant, uses no oil, reduces weight and can increases the engines efficiency. In short, you get more power from the same inputs with fewer emissions.
Christian von Koenigsegg is a Director on the board of Cargine, so there's your first link. It doesn't stop there, though. Cargine's first single-cylinder demonstrator was delivered to Saab for assessment back in 2001 and Saab have been further testing the technology in some 9-5 test vehicles for a few years now.
You can read all about it at Cargine's website. This sort of stuff, along with things like Saab's variable compression research, is the sort of things Saab should be involved in. I can imagine that a few of the former Saab engineers from the old days would be grinning from ear to ear at this idea.
In the meantime, here's a translation of the Ny Teknik article (thanks to Wictor and others!)
(.....and by the way, the headline isn't accurate. It's said that Saab will spend that $600m in EIB money over 60 or 70 different projects so Cargine will only get a portion)
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Koenigsegg can ask the EIB loans to the air-driven valve
Scanian Cargines air operated valves can be one of the technologies such as new Koenigsegg Group invests in the purchase of Saab Automobile to go through.
New technology (Ny Teknik) can today reveal one of the major technology projects Koenigsegg probably expects to receive development loans from the European Investment Bank, EIB, is the company Cargines valve technology for combustion engines.
Cargines CEO confirms Urban Carlsson for new technologies that "technology can be interesting in this context" but also says that it is too early to make any comments because the contract is not yet ready.
Cargine has since 2003 a joint development partnership with Koenigsegg, who is also a partner in Cargine.
The common goal is to produce an engine with air-controlled valves for Koenigsegg sports car and turn it into an energy-saving green.
- It's fun on a small Swedish bilbyggare become the first in the world with this unique technique, "said Christian von Koenigsegg in the last year in an interview with New Technology.
According to Urban Carlson, technology is soon completed:
"We do not have much left.
With the help of the controllable valves can be cold air pushed into the combustion process, which lowers emissions of nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons and organic carbon. (See working principle as motion graphics)
- Especially in cold starts reduced emissions dramatically, "says Urban Carlson.
If Koenigseggs purchase of Saab Automobile goes through the valve concept can then be used on the new Saab cars, Saab CEO Jan Åke Jonsson wants to launch to save Saab.
The plan includes the completion of four new models, 9-3 X, 9-5 and then in combination and 9-4 X.
Large energy-efficient cars for the premium segment seems to be Saab's dream plan.
In order to switch to cleaner technologies Saab has applied for a loan of 4, 7 billion from the EIB. The ball to assess the Saab's business plan and environmental projects is now in the bank.
Cargine also cooperated early with Saab in the development of valve technology. But when you needed money to move on, it became a stop.
"We got no. GM (ed note: Saab's American owners) said no to the activity basmotorutveckling at Saab in Trollhättan, state Urban Carlson.
According to Jan Åke Jonsson, the 'capital of the EIB go to 60-70 different projects that are focused on the environment. "
Last Wednesday, it became also clear that Saab's creditors agree to forgive 75 percent of the company's debts. This after the chord determined by the District Court in Vänersborg.
Saab chords reduce by 8 billion.
The remaining debt of 2, 5 billion will be Saab able to pay out of their own cash, promised Jan Åke Jonsson.
a lot of new, energy saving and environmentally responsible technology.
...how pleasant to talk about advances in automotive technology in the same breath as SAAB again :)
with less resistance. In short; it can spin beyound
10 000 rpm and have much less pumping losses.
Let me think; 2.0 T- 12 000 rpm, 450 hp & 500 ft. Tq.
Yum!!!
If true, in time for 2010 production offering 45 mpg, that WILL be a grand slam.
260 83 Vejbystrand) close to Ängelholm (is that where CvK and wife Halldora live?).
No turnover, hardly any profit and now 42 % owner of SAAB? Part of the companies official business is stock trade. No other names registered.
Knock knock, who is behind those doors?
I woulder if JAJ and the Saab board feels anything for them? They where responsible for the spenditure of those 9,6 billion SEK and surley they must have thought of how Saab was eve going to recover that sort of money. I know all the arguments about GMs clever accounting, generating losses in Saab etc. but still... they must have spent some time thinking about what that kind of drainage of money would lead to? And if they were not confortable with that they should not been on the board of Saab Automobile AB.
I think that those brave companies deserves some recognition for parting in the Koenigsegg lottery. They know as much (or as little) as you do about the finincial strengt of the the possible new owner and what financial backing that they have. No guarnatees has been given for their 25% claim in one year and they don't have any more facts than CvK and Bard Ekers has presented so far.
So the next time when we take a drive in our Saab, lets send a thought to those people who has litteraly banked on the future success of Saab.
Wrong.. GM was the reason. Saab absolutely feels for them. Had FM treated Saab the way they should have then this would be no problem.
GM owe themselves money and the suppliers should all have been payed in full. GM did not and it´s not Saabs bad. AND be careful to remember that these suppöiers also Supply Volvo.. A Volvo that has dropped a heck of a lot in sales too.. And that amount in lost sales fpr Volvo is Much harder on those suppliers than that of Saabs debts.
Just think it through once more...
There are a fair bunch of supplier on that list that DOES NOT supply Volvo. I've red the list and can tell that some of them are on a more or less exclusive deal with Saab. Supplying Volvo would be a big no no for them. Or do you have some kind of secret knowledge here that you could share?
Well.. if the board of Saab is not responsible for the actions of the company who is? They are signing the books every year. They have full knowledge. Or do you think that GM has some kind of way to bypassing the board?
If "technology is soon completed" it could mean just the tech to make the engine work, not the ready engine itself.
That is really research!
Also their tehnology opens up to make a pneumatic hybrid - the engine works as a kompressor when you brake, compressed air is stored in a gas tank and used to drive the engine in city traffic. It's a quite genius move that does away with current battery development problems and is also said to be cheaper than Prius-type electrical solutions but with the same reduction in fuel consumption.
While we're into Tech stuff I should also mention a company with connections to Cargine. It has the intials S A A B, but to not mix it up with another company with those intials it's abbreviated S2AB. They deal with Vehicle Dynamics and head of the company is former Saab chassi Guru - Magnus Roland, who among other things was responsible for the 9000 chassis development. He was actually down in Stuttgart as a speaker on the Vehicle Dynamics Convention. Search on S2AB and read more if you want to know what roadholding is on nano level.
It might have been Lotus. Lotus Engineering has a lot of cool engine technologies, some of them very simple, such as reducing weight by integrating the exhaust manifold into the engine head.
I remember a few years back reading that Saab had developed an all-electric automotive air conditioning compressor that doesn't require a drive belt. This was developed for their hybrid program.
I also remember reading that there have been developments which replace the refrigerant in auto air conditioning units with carbon-dioxide.
There are so many exciting technologies out there it's just going to take a car company to incorporate them and make them mainstream.
Im still on cloud nine trying to get it thru my head that GM no longer has its grubby paws around Saab's neck.
http://www.automotorsport.se/news/18556/avancerade-motorer-till-alfa-mito/
Unfortunately in Swedish but maybe you can run it through Google translation or find some story in your native language. Alfa claims 10 per cent less fuel consumption and 15 per cent gain in torque for this technology, not bad really.
However the Cargine pneumatic tech shows at least twice that improvement. Plus a whole range of other advantages like cheap hybrid ability, just listen to this quote ...it is temporarily possible to increase the torque 10 times compared to Otto (engines). Sounds great to me.
The XWD four-wheel drive system, which is introduced in lots of GM vehicles.
Development of diesel/hybrid technology.
Turbocharged flex-fuel engines (BioPower)
Dual-clutch transmissions (like Audis DSG)
Development of a new engine management system.
and probably more, which is not public yet...
Continuation of all this development is naturally important to GM as well as for Saab. That's why we behind everything can see a good will from GM's side for the well-being of Saabs future.
The Cargine technology is cool. So many applications. Just to be a devils advocate, does anyone see downsides here?
Nonetheless, it would be a wonderful way for the 2010 Saabs to hit the market.
''Low energy consumption, less than 4 kW power requirement at 6000 rpm to run a 16 valve 2 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder engine.''
Wich engine would that be...?
I do not know enough about commercialization timelines for engine technologies like Cargine describes. Maybe 2010 production is too optimistic.
But, I do not see any downsides - more than one of Cargine's technologies will be in a 4-cyl K-Saab engine before any other marque because of CvK being on the Board.
Today, the auto writers are swooning over the solar Quant, but Cargine may just be the leap that Saab gets in the next year to take a bite out of BMW's market. A limited edition Cargine 9-5 in 2010 seems very do-able.
yeah, in my spare time, am trying to figure out how/who is going to meet the 2016 U.S. fuel/emissions standards. Ford and Honda seem to have the current advantage, but the clean diesels are getting attention as the realization that the internal combustion engine is still dominant. battery technologies still seem works in progress.
This is the moment when I remember how unfair it was that girls had to study sewing, and were banned from auto shop in high school in the 1960's.